Rein-holder



P E. LATHROP.

REIN HOLDER.

' (No Model.)

Patented Oct. 31,1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. LATHROP, OF WICHITA, IOWA.

RElN-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,684, dated October 31,1893.

Application filed May 18, 1893.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK E. LATHROP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wichita, in the county of Guthrie and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Rein-Holder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rein holders, and especially that class thereof which are combined with the terret or line ring of a harness saddle, and has for its object to provide convenient means for temporarily holding the lines or reins or the hitching or leader strap.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof as will be hereinafter more fully described and claim ed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective I view of the improved device shown applied and lines or reins in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of the device detached and on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the parts shown by Fig. 2 disconnected from each other.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a terret ring of suitable shape, but

preferably of the form shown, that is attached to the harness saddle and formed with a flange 2 at the base thereof, from which depends a screw-shank 3. A pair of curved springs 4 and 5 partially encircle the said ring and one is longer than the other and stands on the outside. Both of the said springs stand away from the ring 1, and the springt has its ends drawn inwardly toward and pressing at their tips on the said ring 1 and the spring 5 has its ends spread apart at their upper portions, while at the central lower part of the same openings 6 are formed that align with each other and through which the screw-shank 3 is passed to thereby force the bends of the said springs against the flange 2 to hold the same in position. Against the lower side of the under spring 4 is placed a washer 7, that firmly holds the said spring against the flange 2 and retains the same in position.

All the rings on harness are not of the same shape, as some are elliptical, polygonal, as well as the round form shown, and the springs Serial No.474,695- (No model.)

are arranged in the manner set forth so that the inside spring makes the space necessary for the proper operation of the attachment just the same and holds the line or rein more firmly when put up. As shown, the outside spring is intended to hold the lines or reins, which are gathered in folds and placed therein, while the inside spring is intended to hold the hitching or leader strap when a team is unhitched instead of putting the lines through the ring as has been commonly practiced and tying the same. This avoids aserious disadvantage, as the lines cannot become loosened and caught on objects, and the hitching 0r leader strap is in like manner prevented from trailing on the ground and also getting caught.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the 'minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In combination with a terret or line-ring, a pair of springs located at one side thereof the same partially encircling and extending under said ring and standing away from the side thereof and combining to form an intermediate space, said springs diverging at their upper ends, the outer spring being longer than the inner spring and the latter bearing at its tip on the terret-ring, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with a terret or line ring, of a pair of springs that partially encircle and are located under the'same and stand away from the opposite sides thereof forming an intermediate space, said springs diverging at their ends, the outside spring being longer than the inside spring, and the latter bearing at their tips on the terret ring, thus closing the said intermediate space, substantially as described In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. LA THROP.

Witnesses:

G. G. NORTHROP, R. H. 000K. 

